Oil immersed switch



Feb-16, 1,932.

A. WEST OIL IMMERSED SWITCH Filed April 29. 1929 Patented Feb. 16, 1932PATENT FFCE ALLEN WEST, OF BRIGHTON, ENGLAND OIL IMMERSED SWITCHApplication led April 29, 1929, SeriaI No. 359,061, and in Great BritainMay 16, 1928.

rl`his invention relates to oil immersed switches and has referenceparticularly to the venting of such switches.

The difficulty has been experienced in vented oil switches thatexplosions, or sudden pressure rises, due to a short circuit result inthe discharge of oil through the vent openings, which are usually formedby a series of superposed plates separated one from the othersufficiently to permit of the escape of the gases.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for preventingthis discharge of oil while permitting the gases to escape.

The invention consists broadly in the provision, in association with thevent, of a chamber into which the oil can be thrown by the explosion andfrom which it can then drain back into the switch.

Two of the forms which the invention may take are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one embodiment of the invention,and

Figure 2 is a plan of the same with interior parts indicated in dottedlines.

Figure 3 is a. vertical section of another form of the invention.

In the construction shown in Figure 1, a metal dome 1 has integral withit an inwardly projecting horizontal annulus 2 provided at its inneredge with a vertical iiange 3. An annular oil collecting channel 4 isthus formed within the dome. The lower surface of the annulus 2 bears onthe uppermost member of a pile of annuli 5 which alternate with washersor strips 6 to form a vent of more or less usual form. For purposes ofillustration, these washers are shown somewhat `exaggerated in thicknessin the drawings.

The pile of annuli and their spacing members rest upon the edge of anopening 8 in the cover 7 of the switch housing and are held in positionbetween the lower surface of the annulus and the upper surface of theswitch housing cover by hollow bolts 9, the holes 10 through whichconstitute oil draining tubes.

The upper end of each of these bolts is threaded into a hole in theannulus 2 and lies flush with the upper surface of the annulus; thelower end passes through a hole in the housing and is secured by a nut11.

In other words the annular venting plates and their spacing members areclamped between the dome member and the top of the switch housing,tubular bolts being employed to provide the necessary drainage pipes.

The lower edge of the dome is extended downwards on one side of the ventat 12 to protect the operator from flaming gas forced through the ventby explosions within the switch housing.

Two dished circular baille plates 14 and 15 are provided beneath theopening 8 in the switch housing and these baffles are carried on aspindle 13 screwed into the top of the dpme and are secured thereon bynuts 16 and 1 It will be seen that by means of this arrangement thegases will be allowed to escape freely through the annular vent whileany oil thrown up by the explosion and not caught by the battle plateswill collect in the channel 4 and drain back into the switch 75 housingthrough the hollow bolts 9.

A simpler form of construction is shown in Figure 3, the switch housing20 has an external iiange 27 and the dome member 21 is provided with anexternal flange 22 The pile of annular venting plates 5 and theirmembers 6 are secured between these two fianges by bolts 29 and nuts 31.Draining holes 30 are cut through the pile of plates. The dome memberhas an additional vertical iange 32 on one side to protect the operator.Bale plates may be used similar to those shown in Figure 1.

What l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A vent for oilimmersed switches comprising a laminated structure applied to an openingin the top of the switch containing casing, said laminated structureforming a vent for the escaping gases, an opening 95 through thelaminated structure through which oil displaced by rises in pressurepasses upwardly, a dome above said opening adapted to deflect thedisplaced oil into a channel above the laminated structure, and drainage100 holes leading from said channel back to the switch casing.

2. A vent for oil immersed switches comprising a laminated structureapplied to an opening in the top of the switch containing casing, saidlaminated structure forming a vent for the escaping gases, an openingthrough the laminated structure through which oil displaced by rises inpressure passes upwardly, balile plates beneath said opening, a domeabove said opening adapted to dellect the displaced oil into a channelabove the laminated structure, and drainage holes leading from said.channel back to the switch casing.

3. A vent for oil immersed switches comprising a laminated structureapplied to an opening in the top of the switch containing casing, saidlaminated structure orming a vent ior the escaping gases, an openingthrough the laminated structure through which oil displaced by rises inpressure passes upwardly, a dome above said opening adapted to deliectthe displaced oil into a channel above the laminated structure, aspindle depending from the top of said dome, baille plates carried onthe lower end of said spindle and located beneath said opening anddrainage holes leading from said channel back tothe switch casing.

4. A vent for oil immersed switches comprising a series of superimposedannuli, washers separating and alternating with said annuli, an openingin the top of the switch casing which said annuli and said washersborder, a dome structure havin@ a flange abutting upon the pack ofannuli and washers, bolt devices for clamping the dome, annuli andwashers to the top oi' the switch casing and holes passing through said'annuli and said washers through which oil thrown up into the dome drainsback into the switch casing.

5. A vent for oil immersed switches comprising a series ot superimposedannuli, washers separating and alternating with said annuli, an openingin the top of the switch casing which said annuli and said washersborder, a dome structure having a ange abutting upon the pack of annuliand washers, bolt devices for clamping the dome, annuli and washers tothe top of the switch casing and holes passing through said boltsthrough which oil thrown up into the dome drains back into the switchcasino'. Y

6. A vent for oil immersed switches comprising a series of superimposedannuli, washers separating and alternating with said annuli, an openingin the top or" the switch casing which said annuli and said washersborder, a dome structure having a lange abutting upon the pack oi annuliand washers, a spindle depending from said dome, battle plates carriedupon the lower end of said spindle and located beneath the opening inthe top of the switch casing, bolt devices for clamping the dome, annuliand washers to the top or the switch casing and holes passing throughsaid annuli and said washers through which oil thrown up into the domedrains back into the switch casing.

In witness whereof, I aix my signature.

ALLEN WEST.

